Three Great Places to Take the Waters

Spa en Vivo at Hotel MatildaSan Miguel de Allende, MexicoThere’s a large painting by Diego Rivera that hangs in the library of this chic boutique property. It’s called The Archer, and it depicts Matilda Stream, mother of hotel owner Harold “Spook” Stream, as Diana, the goddess of the hunt. She stands young and strong and tall, holding a bow and arrow, a steady gaze in her eye. To me, she stands guard over the property — and she is the guiding spirit behind Spa en Vivo, the beautiful, bucolic living spa located outside, in nature.It was Spa en Vivo that brought me to Hotel Matilda, nestled in the heart of the cobblestoned colonial city of San Miguel. The property is noteworthy for many fine reasons: it supports a thriving local arts scene, with its acclaimed collection of contemporary Latin artworks; it features delicious organic, seasonal farm-to-table cuisine; and it has a jewel box of a city spa, with a tiny apothecary that highlights healing traditions with products that have been handmade from local ingredients. But most important, if you are a lover of spas and nature, it has set itself apart (and …